Few places emblemize Californian
culture quite like Santa Monica. An impressive stretch of sandy beachfront, an
abundance of sunshine, a stroll-worthy pier and an eclectic community of people
combine to form this colorful corner of the Greater
Los Angeles area.
Named after Santa Monica
of Hippo because the area was first discovered by the Spaniards on her saints'
day, Santa Monica experienced a boom in the early 20th century when it was populated
by resorts and holiday-goers. The city has grown in popularity ever since, due
to its climate, laid-back lifestyle and proximity to both the city
and the beach.
The Santa Monica of today is a unique blend of free-spirited hippies, bronzed
beach denizens, adventure-loving skate and surf enthusiasts, polished vacationers
and much more. The city, which is the hometown of several big Hollywood
stars, is known for a few things, including but not limited to its world-famous
skateboarding culture, colorful pier and undeniably laid-back beach culture.
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A Row of Santa
Monica Hotels 2
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This WorldWeb.com Travel
Guide article can help travellers with their accommodation choice with three
important information sources:
1) Accommodation Directory
- This is a complete accommodation directory containing detailed information
about hotels, B&Bs, hostels and more. With links to accommodation websites and
interactive maps, this directory will help visitors find the right place to
stay based on their personal preferences.
2) Room
Search & Secure Room Reservations - This convenient room search page
allows the user to check for room availability and then make a secure room reservation
at appropriate properties. Although this is a useful feature anytime of year,
the online Secure Room Reservations page is particularly helpful in the peak
seasons when finding accommodation at properties can be difficult.
3) Maps
- The Santa Monica map can assist visitors in choosing where to stay by not
only indicating where accommodations are located, but also where they are in
relation to attractions, restaurants, shops, tours, transportation and more.
ORIENTATION
Santa Monica is wedged between Malibu
to the north and Venice
to the south, and is easily accessed from central Los Angeles by the Santa Monica
Freeway and Santa
Monica Boulevard, made famous by a Sheryl Crow song. The city is also
bisected by the Pacific
Coast Highway, which runs from north to south.
Districts
Downtown is where the third street promenade is located, and offers lots
of shops, restaurants and services concentrated into a relatively small area.
Mid-City is where Bergamot Station and other galleries charm artsy-types,
where several record companies have studios and where Irish and British pubs
lull passersby with promises of good times and Guinness.
Montana
Ave is where the posh people go, for shops and cafes that offer luxurious,
unique goods in exquisite settings. Nearby Main Street is vibrant and
hip, its streets lined with funky shops selling everything from coffee to coiffures.
Ocean Avenue, not
surprisingly, runs alongside the ocean and gives way to the Santa Monica Pier,
which offers a day of fun for the whole family. Ocean Park is a charming,
non-touristy area, as is Pico Ave, which offers a number of international
eateries.
Finally, the Santa Monica
Airport may not be open to commercial flights, but that doesn't mean visitors
can't head there for a day of plane-watching. The
Santa Monica Airport, formerly known as Clover Field, holds an important
place in aviation history as the first flight to circumnavigate the world originated
and ended here. The airport is also home to Douglas Aircraft.
TRANSPORTATION
Getting There
Santa Monica is 8 mi (13 km) from the Los
Angeles International Airport (LAX), from which visitors can take a
taxi
or shuttle
to downtown Santa Monica, for approximately $35 or $20, respectively, each way.
Downtown Los Angeles is
about 15 mi (24 km) from Santa Monica, and the two are connected by the Santa
Monica Freeway, as well as public
transit with service to and from central LA provided by the Los
Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. A bus schedule
can be picked up at the
Santa Monica Visitors Centre.
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Month |
Avg.
Daily Temperature |
Average
Rainfall |
|
Max |
Min |
| Jan
|
64°F(18°C) |
50°F(10°C) |
2.98
in |
| Feb |
64°F(18°C) |
50°F(10°C) |
3.04
in |
| Mar
|
63°F(17°C) |
51°F(11°C) |
1.94
in |
| Apr |
64°F(18°C) |
53°F(12°C) |
0.79
in |
| May
|
65°F(18°C) |
56°F(13°C) |
0.2
in |
| Jun
|
67°F(20°C) |
59°F(15°C) |
0.03
in |
| Jul |
70°F(21°C) |
62°F(16°C) |
0.02
in |
|
Aug |
71°F(21°C) |
63°F(17°C) |
0.13
in |
|
Sep |
72°F(22°C) |
62°F(17°C) |
0.13
in |
|
Oct |
70°F(21°C) |
59°F(15°C) |
0.32
in |
|
Nov |
68°F(20°C) |
54°F(12°C) |
1.43
in |
|
Dec |
67°F(19°C) |
56°F(13°C) |
12.84
in |
|
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Data
from the Western Regional Climate Centre |
Getting Around
Santa Monica is relatively
small in area, so walking throughout the city, or at least between the major
attractions, is easy and fairly straightforward. For those who'd rather not
travel by foot, Santa Monica has a thorough and reliable public transit system,
the Big
Blue Bus, which also provides service to West LA and offers an express
to downtown LA. Riding on the Big Blue Bus is convenient—buses run every
15 minutes 365 days of the year—and cheap—an adult bus fare is less
than $1. But if hoofing it and taking the bus are not options, there are plenty
of taxis
available.
Parking in Santa Monica
can be expensive, is subject to a number of limitations and is difficult to
come by. It's a good idea to choose a hotel that provides parking and leave
the car there while exploring Santa Monica via one of the aforementioned methods.
WHEN TO VISIT
Santa Monica enjoys a temperate climate. September is the hottest month,
with the recorded high being 99°F (37°C.) August and July aren't far
behind temperature-wise, so late summer is the ideal time for heat-seekers to
visit. Winter isn't all that bad either though, with temperatures around 63°F
(17°C.) However, in December, the occasional Santa Ana wind can bring dry,
hot weather to the area, so those in search of a white Christmas, or even a
seasonal Californian Christmas, might want to look elsewhere.
One of Santa Monica's major
draws is that it enjoys 325 days of sunshine per year on average. May and June
are sometimes smoggy and overcast, so serious sunbakers should pick a different
month to visit.
ATTRACTIONS
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Sign at the Santa
Monica Pier 3
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For inland dwellers, the
beach itself is a big enough reason to come to Santa Monica. But beaches are
standard issue in California and what makes this one stand apart is its amazing
pier,
full of unique vendors and rides like the historic Santa
Monica Looff Hippdrome Carousel, which has been a fixture on the pier
since 1909 and is a registered national historic landmark.
Another great place for
a stroll in Santa Monica and one of its best-known attractions is the Third
Street Promenade, a pedestrian-only shopping district that has been
helping people unload the extra weight from their wallet for decades. Because
no cars are allowed on the road, it's a perfect place for people to congregate,
surrounded by shops, eateries and colorful street performers. It runs for three
blocks between Wilshire and Broadway Boulevards.
Cultural attractions also
abound in Santa Monica. The
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is a historic performing arts venue that
hosted the Academy Awards from 1961 to 1968. Bergamot
Station is a former trolley station and celery packing factory-turned
art complex, which features several prominent galleries including the city-owned
Santa Monica Museum of Art.
ACCOMMODATIONS
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Enjoying a Warm
Evening on the Veranda 4
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Santa Monica enjoys an ideal
location near the beach but away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Los
Angeles. But the desirable location means staying in this city is not cheap.
High-end hotels dominate the landscape, though there are a limited number of
other accommodation choices.
High-End
Posh Hotels are Santa Monica's specialty, where big-name luxury hotels like
the Fairmont
Miramar stand alongside historic establishments such as the Georgian
Hotel, offering classic art deco style and a rich history as the stomping
ground for many famous names throughout the 20th century.
Though several hotels are
located beside the beach, only two have the distinction of being on the beach.
The
Casa Del Mar was the place to be seen on the west coast when it originally
had its heyday in the 1920s, and since re-opening in 1999, it has lived up to
its old reputation. Visitors who can't afford the price of a room, which can
cost thousands a night, should take a look around the grand ballrooms and sweeping
hallways of the hotel anyway—it truly is a sight in itself. The beach's
other hotel, Shutters,
is just as pricey and just as luxurious, but evokes a classic breezy Californian
feel coupled with all the amenities of home to create the perfect beach vacation.
Other impressive hotels
include the Viceroy
Hotel, situated not far from Casa Del Mar and Shutters on Ocean Ave.
The Viceroy is a boutique hotel offering a unique sense of style and a convenient
location. Those who don't mind staying uptown should check in to mid-city's
Ambrose
Hotel, where Asian-inspired décor and a quiet setting away from
the bustle of the beachfront make for a relaxing stay.
For accommodations that
are smaller, more personable and just as fancy, the
Channel Road Inn is a B & B-style establishment located only a block
from the beach. Filled with charm and classic style, the 1910 Inn is the former
home of Thomas McCall, an early, prominent settler from Scotland.
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| The
Unique Georgian Hotel 5 |
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Mid-Range
Historic Hotel
Carmel enjoys a convenient location on Broadway, just off Ocean Ave,
where most of the high-end hotels are situated. While it may not be as luxurious
as its neighbors, it comes without the hefty price tag, offering good value
for money.
Classic Rock fans may have
their hearts set on staying at the Hotel
California. Yes, it's that Hotel California, the one featured in the
classic Eagles song of the same name. There are a few differences though: Guests
can leave when they check out, they have to drink regular champagne on
ice instead of the pink variety, and there aren't any mirrors on the ceilings.
Days
Inn, Comfort
Inn and other chain hotels offer uptown locations, providing guests
with a reasonably-priced room and the basic necessities for a pleasant stay,
on the condition that the beach and popular attractions are a bit of a walk
away.
Budget
Travelers on a budget can choose between the privacy of a motel or the convenience
and amenities of a hostel. The
Palm Motel offers rooms at a fraction of a cost of a night at one of
the hotels located on Ocean Avenue, while the Ocean
Park Inn provides a number of amenities and the convenience of being
situated close to busy Lincoln Avenue.
Santa
Monica's Hostelling International Hostel, located near the beach, offers
over 200 rooms, with dorm-style accommodations available for rent for under
$50.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- Santa Monica's Pier,
Santa Monica, CA, USA
- A Row of Santa Monica
Hotels, Santa Monica, CA, USA
- Sign at the Santa
Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA, USA
- c/o The Georgian Hotel;
Enjoying a Warm Evening on the Veranda; Santa Monica, CA, USA
- c/o The Georgian
Hotel; The Unique Georgian Hotel; Santa Monica, CA, USA
